“The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

I left you yesterday with a family friend handing the phone to estranged Charlene. She had removed herself from the family years before because of her own personal rebellion and terrible choices. On the phone that day was her brother Josh. “Please come home, Sis. Dad isn’t going to be with us very much longer.” We fast forward nearly twenty years. Charlene’s daughter said to her mom, “I’m so glad that you went back to Grandpa and Grandma. But what made you change so much?” Charlene responded thoughtfully, “It was the verses my dad said to me as he held my hand. In the hospital before he died, he whispered 2 Timothy 4:6-8. Soon after he quietly went to Heaven as he smiled at us. I knew right then that was the way I want to go to face the Lord. It was life-changing for me.”

For today: For us to have the same conviction as Paul, we need to have the same lifestyle of trusting and obeying the Lord Jesus. That’s what I want. How about you?